Leica Look Lightroom Presets

3 Leica M8 LR presets to apply to Leica M8 RAW files. That is what I made the profiles for specifically but you can still try applying them to any photo to see if it gives you the Leica look!

I think the famous Leica look is a combination of Leica lenses (mostly) and Leica digital camera sensors (less so). The Leica M8 and Leica M9 CCD sensors were very different to the mass-produced CMOS sensors found in many modern digital cameras (including the Leica M240). They give a more filmic hybrid look unlike most digital photos. It was a huge disappointment “upgrading from a Leica M9 to a Leica M240. (See my Learning to love the Leica M240). I finally developed LR presets that brought the lifeless M240 RAW files back to life. (I will try to share these when I get chance).

Leica M8 LR Presets

Why 3 presets? Leica M8 RAW DNG files (colour) already have a vintage look straight from camera (perhaps similar to my Leica CL colour wedding preset but more filmic looking). The “Leica M8 Colour1” preset gives a more saturated, higher contrast modern looking colour profile. The two Leica M8 Lightroom presets that are B&W might look quite similar if the images are viewed small size. Where they differ the most is when photos are viewed large. The “Leica M8 B&W Vintage1” preset gives a much more grainy appearance than the “Leica M8 B&W1” preset that has a smoother more modern look.

Leica M8 Camera Presets – Preview Photos

Before and after preview photos from Adobe Lightroom (screenshots) to show the effect of each LR preset. Images on the left show the RAW DNG Leica M8 files “Before” and pictures on the right are with the Leica M8 preset applied “After”. (Please note I was not using an IR cut filter for any photo as I didn’t have one to fit the lens I used for most photos).

All featured Leica M8 photos were shot during my latest trip to Poland. Full Poland blog to follow.

1. Leica Lightroom Presets: MrLeica Leica M8 B&W Vintage1

Up close the “Leica M8 B&W Vintage1” preset has quite a vintage look

2. Leica Lightroom Presets: MrLeica Leica M8 B&W1

The “Leica M8 B&W1” offers smoother skin and a perhaps a slightly more modern look yet still the filmic look of the Leica M8 CCD sensor. (Perhaps the appearance of a fine grain modern film emulsion vs the more classic film grain look of the “Leica M8 B&W Vintage1”. (Despite owning digital Leica cameras I shoot film as much as possible so my Lightroom presets tend to have a film influence).